These intelligent transport startups have been selected for a new accelerator programme

Focusing on smart transport solutions, eight startups have made the first cohort of companies to join the Intelligent Mobility (IM) Accelerator programme.

The businesses will be able to benefit from a six-month support programme that should help them accelerate growth plans and provide transport solutions.

They will now receive office space, coaching, mentoring, acceleration services, and access to the networks of the programme partners, Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) and Wayra UK.

Gary Stewart, director of Wayra UK, said: “Transportation is the bane of many people’s daily lives, and it doesn’t have to be that way.

“We were blown away by the creativity and calibre of the applicants, and I have every confidence that the customer-focused, data-driven startups we have selected will make transport a little less painful for all of us.”

Such networks include investors, government agencies, customers, large corporates and universities, as well as opportunities to work with the TSC’s world-leading capability team, featuring specialists in systems engineering and data science.

The programme has also attracted the sponsorship of ThoughtWorks and national railway operator Network Rail, who will both provide support to startups at the Accelerator, including mentoring, coaching, and access to networks.

Alex Weedon, TSC’s director of commercial, added: “We are extremely excited to see the first cohort of startups arriving at our Innovation Centre to join the IM Accelerator.

“Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Big Data and automated technologies are opening up a whole world of new opportunities to make smarter, greener transport which is better for everyone.

“We hope many of these startups will end up leading the way to this bright future.”

The companies selected to join the programme include Cityswifter, Conigital, Drivernet, GoMetro, Safr, Synaptiv, Valerann and Zeelo.

The IM Accelerator programme focuses on intelligent mobility, including connected and autonomous vehicles, customer experience and transport data and analysis.

Its goal is to develop companies that will create solutions for the most pressing transport problems today, improving day-to-day life for travellers while creating new UK-based industry leaders in a £900bn global transport systems market.